Overview

Keys to identify taxa come in two different forms, standard (hierarchial) and multi-entry. TaxonWorks supports the creation and use of both, adding enough numerous new features to the former in its digital format.

Standard keys

Historically known as bifurcating, dichotomous and traditional within TaxonWorks these look like this where each branch is a "Lead":

1. lead 1 ... 3
-  lead 2 ... Aus

3. lead 3 ... Bus
-  lead 4 ... Cus
-  lead 5 ... Dus

Keys may be contain the following:

2 or more leads per step/entry, i.e. the model is not limited to couplets or strickly dichotomous formats
Individual leads can be figured, cited, and annotated with Attribution (e.g. editor, creator, copyright owner)
Endpoints can point to OTUs or user-defineable text/link combinations, or be redirects to other
Number the key (e.g. cloning from literature) explicitly or it can be auto-numbered for print

Digital

Benefits of the digital version of TaxonWorks' standard keys:

See "past" (decisions made prior) and "future" (decisions to be made) endpoints at each step
Expandable figures with captions and figure numbers
Link outs in-place to enpoint pages
See annotations (e.g. notes, flags)

These keys can be used on-or offline using the pinpoint app, which can further be integrated into any website including those based on TaxonPages.

Print

TaxonWorks exports print-ready formats with features including:

Auto numbering of the key on demand
Markdown markup for eBook or further styling (coming)

API

Standard keys can be exported as one JSON object. This object is what is used by pinpoint. It could also be used as a data-object in a larger integrated or aggregating format. The model is in progress.

Tutorial: Standard Key

What follows are the steps for entering data to create a basic dichotomous (standard) key. Please note carefully the logic of when and where key elements are entered as these intricacies are critical.

The instructions that follow will allow you to recreate the key shown here:

Key to the males of Rhopalopsole species from Yunnan Province of China from 
Yang, X. & Du, Y.-Z. (2024) A new species of Rhopalopsole (Plecoptera, Leuctridae) from Yunnan Province, China. Biodiversity Data Journal, 12, e134258: 10 pages. https://doi.org/10.3897/bdj.12.e134258.

1 Lateral processes of tergum 10 bifurcate…………………………………………………….... 2

– Lateral processes of tergum 10 not bifurcate……………………………………………….… 4

2 Epiproct triangulate in dorsal view ………………………….R. brevidigitata Qian & Du, 2017

– Epiproct not triangulated in dorsal view…………………………………..……………………. 3

3 Antennae with long hairs…………………………………….…R. sinensis Yang & Yang, 1993

– Antennae without long hairs……………………………..….R. yunnana Sivec & Harper, 2008

4 Subanal lobes are divided into three parts……………………..…….R. dentiloba (Wu, 1973)

– Subanal lobes are not divided into three parts…………………………..……………………. 5

5 Lateral projections of tergum 10 nearly parallel-sided in lateral view……...R. emeishan Sivec & Harper, 2008

– Lateral projections of tergum 10 gradually taper towards the apex in the lateral view……. 6

6 Tergum 10 with central sclerite is about the same length and width…… R. faciursina Qian & Du, 2017

– Tergum 10 with central sclerite distinctly broader than long…………………………………. 7

7 Tergum 9 with a T-shaped weakly sclerotised area in the median……. R. siculiformis Qian & Du, 2012

– Tergum 9 without a T-shaped weakly sclerotised area in the median………………..…….. 8

8 The cercus with a small spine and tergum 9 is mostly sclerotised, somewhat less so in the median pentagonal area with a paired posterior process with sensilla basiconica………………………………………………………R. dulongjianga Yang & Du, sp. nov.

– The cercus without spine and tergum 9 without a pentagonal weakly sclerotised area in the median………………………..R. bispina (Wu, 1949)

Starting from New Dichotomous key task:

In the Key metadata box, enter a title and description.
Search for and select the taxon for which the key was written, in this case the genus Rhopalopsole.
Check the Is publicly accessible box.
Save the metadata, then
Enter the citation for the source of the key using the radial annotator that will appear in the upper right corner.

Next type 1 in the couplet from citation box.
Cut and paste couplet 1a into the top left text box, and 1b into the top right text box.
Click the Update button.

Note that since 1a (left column) directs the user to couplet 2, create and edit the next couplet must originate from the left hand column.
- Click on create and edit the next couplet in the left column.
Type 2 in the couplet from citation box.
Cut and paste couplet 2a into the top left text box, and 2b into the top right text box.
Search for brevidigitata in the left OTU box and select the correct one from those shown.
Click the Update button.

Now, in the Previous couplets box, click on couplet 1.
This time, in the right hand column (couplet 1b), click on Create and edit the next couplet.
Note that couplet 1b directs the user to couplet 4.
- Type 4 in the Couplet number from citation box.
Cut and paste couplet 4a into the top left text box, and 4b into the top right text box.
Search for dentilobata in the left OTU box and select the correct one from those shown.
Click the Update button.
In the Previous couplets box, click on couplet 1.
- Then go to bottom of left column and click on couplet 2 to return to couplet 2.
Note that couplet 2b directs the user to couplet 3. Go to top of right column and click on Create and edit next couplet.
Type 3 in the Couplet number from citation box.
Cut and paste couplet 3a into the top left text box, and 3b into the top right text box.
Search for sinensis in the left OTU box and select the correct one from those shown.
Search for yunnana in the right OTU box and select the correct one from those shown.
Click the Update button.

In the Previous couplets box, click on couplet 1.
Go to bottom of right column and click on Couplet 4 to return to couplet 4.
Note that couplet 4b directs the use to 5, so go to top of right column and click on Create and edit next couplet.
Type 5 in the Couplet number from citation box.
Cut and paste couplet 5a into the top left text box, and 5b into the top right text box.
Search for emeishan in the left OTU box and select the correct one from those shown.
Click the Update button.

Enter the rest of the couplets following the above pattern. Once the key is complete use the radial navigator button in the upper right to go to Use dichotomous key to check your work.

Multi-entry keys

An observation matrix in TaxonWorks can be used as a multi-entry key within or outside of TaxonWorks using the app distinguish. Internally this integration extends the role of a multi-entry key engine far beyond its use in diagnosing taxa. For example the interface can be used to:

Evaluate progress in the construction of large complicated datasets
Create a single point of entry for adding annotations of all types that reflect workflows, scientific addenda, etc.
Navigate two and from other linked resources within TaxonWorks
Provide multi-language context for the underlying coding of data

Features include:

Ability to translate any Descriptor (= Character traditionally) into any number of language
Qualitative weighting of descriptors
Prioritization of choices based on descriptor order, weighting, or next-best-algorithm
Toggling between ranks of terminals (only species, only genera, etc.)
Trivial re-use and reformulation of the key scope by adding or removing new descriptors or terminals
Rows from OTUs (taxa), CollectionObjects, or Extracts

Integration of standard and multi-entry keys

3i, one of the precursor to TaxonWorks had functionality that lets multi-entry key algorithms drive the creation of traditional keys in a sophisticated manner. We have architected TaxonWorks to facilitate replicating that functionality, and to innovate on this front. Internally we have a solid understanding of how to tackle first steps. See the issue tracker for more.